Sean Palmer Headlines 2026 PGA of America National Awards Class
FRISCO, Texas, and ORLANDO (January 21, 2026) – The PGA of America today announced its 2026 National Award Recipients at the 73rd PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. The awards class is headlined by PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Brian Crowell; PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year Bernie Najar; and PGA of America Golf Executive of the Year Sean Palmer.
The Association annually recognizes 13 award recipients for their extraordinary accomplishments and efforts within the golf industry, standing out among more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals.
“Our 2026 PGA of America Award recipients are shining examples of the passion, leadership and service that define our Association,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea. “To be recognized among more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals is truly impressive. These 13 honorees have dedicated themselves to elevating the game of golf and enriching the lives of those in their communities. Their commitment to the game inspires all of us and it is a privilege to celebrate their remarkable achievements this year.”
The award recipients will be recognized today at the 73rd PGA Show at the Orange County Convention Center. The presentation begins at 4:30 p.m. EST on the PGA of America Industry Stage presented by CapTech.
Also honored on stage will be the recently announced 2025 PGA of America Professional Players of the Year presented by Rolex: Men’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Ben Polland of Jackson, Wyoming; Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Sandra Changkija of Daytona Beach, Florida; and Senior PGA Professional Player of the year Justin Hicks of Oyster Bay, New York.
2026 PGA of America National Award Recipients
PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year
- Brian Crowell, PGA – Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point – Bronx, N.Y.
PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year
- Bernie Najar, PGA – Caves Valley Golf Club – Owings Mills, Md.
PGA of America Golf Executive of the Year
- Sean Palmer, PGA – The Union League of Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Penn.
PGA of America Professional Development award
- Robin Shelton, PGA – Newport Beach Country Club – Newport Beach, Calif.
Bill Strausbaugh Award
- Carl Alexander, PGA – The Golf Club of Purchase – Purchase, N.Y.
Herb Graffis Award
- New England PGA Section
Deacon Palmer Award
- Mike D’Agostino, PGA – Penfield Country Club – Penfield, N.Y.
Patriot Award
- Bo Preston, PGA – The Links at Boynton Beach – Boynton Beach, Fla.
PGA of America Player Development Award
- Ryan Young, PGA – Chambers Bay – Tacoma, Wash.
PGA of America Youth Player Development Award
- Henry Stetina, PGA – New Mexico State University PGA Golf Management – N.M.
PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year – Resort Category
- Jared Henzlik, PGA – Big Cedar Lodge – Ridgedale, Mo.
PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year – Public Category
- Alex Abbruzza, PGA – TPC of Louisiana – Avondale, La.
PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category
- Chris Rowe, PGA – Whispering Pines Golf Club – Trinity, Texas
Sean Palmer, PGA, Chief Operating Officer of The Union League of Philadelphia, is the recipient of the 2026 PGA of America Golf Executive of the Year Award. The honor recognizes outstanding services in an executive management position, as well as leadership, vision, courage, moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game.
Palmer’s career began at age 13 as a caddie and now oversees more than 1,400 employees and seven properties at one of the nation’s largest and most respected private clubs. After graduating from Penn State’s PGM program and learning from industry leaders at top clubs, Palmer joined The Union League in 2014 as Head Golf Professional, tasked with launching its first golf property, Torresdale. Starting with no golf members or staff, he led the creation of three successful golf operations, growing golf membership from zero to more than 1,200 and annual golf revenue to more than $22 million.
In the past decade, Palmer has overseen more than $64 million in capital projects and played a lead role in the acquisition and development of additional golf properties. Under his leadership, The Union League’s membership has grown from 3,200 to 4,700, and annual revenue has increased from $34 million to $117 million. As COO, Palmer manages all Union League operations, including golf, hospitality and business functions, with a focus on innovation, culture and team development.
Palmer leads the Union League University, a staff training and mentorship program that has become a model for peer organizations. The program provides golf interns and employees across all departments with a structured curriculum, mentorship and career development opportunities. More than 25 assistant professionals, caddie masters and retail associates have advanced to leadership roles under his guidance.
A champion for community engagement, Palmer has led The Union League in supporting PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), hosting the 2022 PGA Works Collegiate Championship and raising more than $1.4 million for HBCU golf programs. The club is a proud partner of The First Tee of Philadelphia, providing facilities, fundraising support and enrichment programs for youth. Palmer also created the UL Caddie Scholarship Program and has expanded access to golf for juniors, women and families by removing traditional barriers and offering innovative membership and instruction models.
Palmer serves on four Philadelphia PGA Section committees and is active in the PGA Reach mentorship program. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has served on the Penn State PGM Alumni Board for nine years, including as president. His leadership has been recognized with the Philadelphia Section’s Professional Development Award (2024), Golf Professional of the Year Award (2021) and Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award (2014), as well as Penn State’s Frank B. Guadagnolo Award for Mentoring Excellence (2021) and Pride of the Lions Alumnus of the Year Award (2019).
PGA Master Professional Brian A. Crowell, President of Bally’s Golf and General Manager of Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point in Bronx, New York, is the recipient of the 2026 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Award. This is the highest honor given annually to a PGA of America Golf Professional. The award represents leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.
A Member of the PGA of America since 1994, Crowell exemplifies the qualities of a PGA Professional through his dedication to mentorship, education and growing the game. At Bally’s, he oversees a team of up to 150 employees, manages an $11 million budget and is a tireless advocate for the positive power of golf.
Crowell’s dedication to the PGA of America is extensive, including serving as a member or chair of 55 Section and 11 national committees. He is a current member of the National PGA Education Committee (2025-2026) and has served on numerous national committees, including as Chairman of the National PGA PR/Communications Committee (2013-2014), Co-Chair of the National PGA Member Engagement Committee (2015-2016) and as a member of the National PGA Membership Committee (2021-2024). Crowell served as the 26th President of the Metropolitan PGA Section (2016-2018), has been a Met PGA Board member for over 20 years and a Section Officer for more than a decade. He was instrumental in modernizing the Section Board structure and constitution, and in 2020 Crowell became the first PGA Professional to serve as President of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association.
A champion for access and inclusion, Crowell was instrumental in bringing the APGA Tour to the Bronx for the first time in 2024, and again in 2025 for their MasterCard Tour Championship. Deeply committed to community engagement, Crowell provides free access for local scholastic teams and weekly golf clinics for the Bronx Boys & Girls Clubs and for the Metropolitan Golf Association. He is a coach and host for the Met PGA HOPE League, and he coaches PGA Jr. League teams along with a talented staff at the NYC Parks Foundation.
Crowell is also widely recognized for his contributions to golf media as a television broadcaster for CBS, a longtime host on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio and an accomplished author of four golf books including: Teach Yourself Visually: Golf; Slice-Free Golf; Idiot’s Guide: Golf; and Visual Quick Tips. In addition to CBS, Crowell has appeared as a host or analyst for NBC, Golf Channel and USA Network. Over his career, he has covered 14 PGA Championships, 15 Masters Tournaments and has co-hosted “On Course” on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio with Frank Darby, PGA, for 10 years, sharing passion and expertise with a national audience.
Dedicated to giving back to his community, Crowell and his family founded the Stewart Crowell Foundation, awarding nearly $40,000 in scholarships to high school seniors. He also created the “Crowell Bowl,” a Super Bowl Pool now in its 8th year, raising over $35,000 for the Met PGA Foundation.
Crowell’s achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2024 Met Section Patriot Award, 2020 Met Section Golf Professional of the Year, 2003 Met Section Professional Development Award and 2024 Northeast Callaway Professional of the Year. He has been recognized as a “Top Golf Instructor in the US,” a “Top 50 USKids Instructor” and is a PGA Master Professional in Teaching & Coaching (2022).
PGA Master Professional Bernie Najar, Director of Instruction at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, is the recipient of the 2026 PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year Award. This honor is presented annually to a PGA of America Golf Professional who has made outstanding contributions to teaching and coaching, player development and the advancement of golf instruction.
A PGA Master Professional in Teaching and Coaching since 2023, Najar is recognized as one of the nation’s top instructors. He is ranked among Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers and has been Maryland’s No. 1 instructor since 2011. He is also a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and a Golf Range Association of America Top 50 Elite Growth of the Game Teaching Professional. Najar is a four-time recipient of the Middle Atlantic PGA Section Teacher of the Year Award (2004, 2014, 2022, 2023) and a two-time winner of the Section’s Professional Development Award (2011, 2012).
Elected to PGA membership in 1998, Najar has served as Director of Instruction at Caves Valley since 2012, building one of the Mid-Atlantic’s top player-development centers. His students have won eight of the last 12 Maryland State Junior Boys Championships as well as major club and college tournaments and national events including the U.S. Junior Amateur and Under Armour National Championship. Notable students include Bryan Kim, Kyle Berkshire and Ryan McCormick. Najar’s players have earned Division I scholarships, won state and national titles and competed on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and European Challenge Tour.
A dedicated mentor and educator, Najar has chaired and presented at Section teaching summits for 16 consecutive years and launched the Instructor Resource and Networking Program, providing virtual learning for PGA Professionals and PGA Professional Golf Management students nationwide. His educational events have raised more than $10,000 for the PGA of America REACH Foundation. He serves on the MAPGA Education and Employment Committees and has been a faculty instructor for the PGM Program.
Najar is a frequent presenter at national and Section teaching summits, including the PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit, Golf Magazine Top 100 Summit and TPI World Golf Fitness Summit. He has authored two books: Speed/Power/Finesse: How to Play the Three Games of Golf and The Game: Enjoying Golf On and Off the Course.
Committed to growing the game, Najar works with juniors in the First Tee Program, supports the Caves Valley Foundation and conducts charity clinics for hospitals and other community organizations across the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. metroplex. He has developed innovative programs for seniors, women and players with disabilities, ensuring golf is accessible and enjoyable for all.
For full bios of Crowell, Najar, Palmer and all 13 PGA of America National Award recipients for 2025, please click here.
The formal National Awards ceremony is scheduled for November during the 110th PGA of America Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About the PGA of America
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Media Contacts:
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Jared Minksi, Mastro Communications, jared@mastrocomm.com
Michael Caldwell, the PGA head golf professional at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, has been named the 2025 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year. This is the highest annual honor given to a Philadelphia PGA of America Golf Professional, awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Philadelphia PGA Section and the game of golf.
PGA Master Professional John Dunigan, the PGA director of instruction at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has been named the 2026 Philadelphia PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year for his “outstanding services as a golf teacher, innovator and coach.” A renowned coach, mentor, and educator, he earned his PGA of America membership in 1996, and has worked at other reputable clubs such as Aronimink Golf Club, White Manor Country Club, and Hartefeld National. When he is not coaching his students, averaging over 1,800 hours of lessons annually, Dunigan has made it his mission to teach and mentor fellow PGA Professionals in this Section, and across the country. Over the past five years, he has presented over 50 teaching workshops, seminars, and summits around the country, in addition to being intimately involved with the Section’s teaching and coaching education events. Dunigan is also a published author, writing books such as “Hole It! Master Putting’s Three Essential Skills,” and “Essential Golf,” and appearing in both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. This is his fifth Philadelphia PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year honor, in addition to being named the Section’s 2018 Professional Development Award, and 2012 Youth Player Development Award recipient.
Lou Guzzi, the PGA director of instruction at Lou Guzzi Golf Academy at Talamore Country Club in Ambler, Pennsylvania, is the recipient of the 2025 Philadelphia PGA Professional Development Award, an honor he also received in 2014 and 2021. This honor goes to a PGA Member who displays commendable contributions to the education of PGA Professionals. A past PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year (2013) and two-time Section Teacher & Coach of the Year (2003, 2010), Guzzi has shaped the field through leadership roles—including chairing the PGA of America’s Teaching & Coaching Summit Committee—and through an extensive catalog of educational content. He has created several professional development presentations, participated in dozens of Section and national speaking engagements, written dozen of articles for PGA Magazine, Golf Magazine, Golf Range Magazine, and others, and has produced videos that support amateur golfers as well as fellow PGA Professionals.
Jon Flint, the PGA director of instruction at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham, Pennsylvania, is the recipient of the Section’s 2025 Player Development Award. This honor bestows special recognition to a PGA of America Member who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. Flint has built a comprehensive, year-round player development structure at Commonwealth—introducing a youth golf intramural league, “Path to Par” seasonal programs, weekly beginner clinics, a fitness program, and family-centered events that have significantly strengthened participation and retention across the facility. A respected mentor to PGA Associates and a collaborative leader within the Section, Flint continually shares best practices, hosts workshops, and contributes to national coaching networks, reflecting his commitment to growing the game and supporting the professional community.
Eric MacCluen is the PGA director of instruction at Applecross Country Club in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and the Section’s 2025 Youth Player Development Award recipient. The award is given annually to a PGA of America Golf Professional who has made extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of youth player development. With nearly 40 years of teaching experience, and a career dedicated to expanding access, confidence, and opportunity for young players, MacCluen has built one of the most impressive youth golf programs in the Section. His programming extends far beyond traditional instruction—he creates welcoming, high-energy environments where beginners thrive, and young athletes gain life skills alongside golf skills. Through free school-based clinics, outreach to multiple districts, partnerships with the First Tee of Delaware, and his Girls Golf Revolution initiative, MacCluen has introduced hundreds of girls to the game, rebuilt and saved high school girls’ teams, and fostered communities where players mentor one another. Parents, students, and fellow PGA Professionals consistently describe him as a coach whose influence changes lives—teaching integrity, leadership, resilience, and belonging as intentionally as he teaches the golf swing. His work has produced scholarship athletes, tournament winners, and, most importantly, young people who believe in themselves because he believed in them first.
Jameson Wallace, the PGA general manager Chambersburg (Pennsylvania) Country Club, has been named the Section’s 2025 Merchandiser of Year for the Private Category. The award recognizes PGA of America Golf Professionals working at a private golf facility who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf. Overseeing more than 3,000 square feet across the clubhouse shop, fitting center, and a golf range location, Wallace has built a merchandising program that blends boutique-level personalization with data-driven decision making. He invests 30-40 percent of his time in merchandising, while his regular display updates, seasonal refreshes, and clean, organized layouts ensure a consistently fresh retail experience. Under Wallace’s guidance, Chambersburg’s retail operation has grown more than 700 percent since 2009. He previously won this award in 2020, and was the 2008 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year in the Carolinas PGA Section.
Kevin Duffy is the PGA director of golf at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham, Pennsylvania, and the Section’s 2025 Deacon Palmer Award recipient, an honor that he also received in 2022. The award bestows special recognition to a PGA of America Golf Professional who personally displays outstanding integrity, character and leadership, in the effort to overcome a major obstacle in their life. This individual is an unsung hero/heroine at their facility and in their community, who serves to inspire, empower and assist others, both inside and outside of the game. After Duffy’s first child, Molly Rose, was born in 2013, she was diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraplegia type 47 (SPG47), a disease so rare that Molly was the first in the United States to be diagnosed, and only the seventh in the world. While helping his daughter through therapies, Duffy continued his work at Riverton, in his first year as PGA head professional, and remained committed to making sure he exceeded his members’ expectations. Duffy’s son, Owen Patrick, was born in 2021, and unfortunately was also diagnosed with SPG47. To help support those affected by SPG47, the Duffys teamed with another family impacted by the disease to create the non-profit Cure SPG47, with a mission to develop a treatment for the disease. He started a golf outing named “Golf for a Cure,” which has grown into an impressive community event. The event hosts over 200 golfers annually, and has raised over $1.9 million in less than 10 years. Additionally, a gene therapy is in its final stages of development and hopes to go through the FDA approval process in the coming months. Outside his work for SPG47 and career at his facilities, Duffy has also found the time to volunteer for the Philadelphia PGA Section, having served as the District 1 Director, and as a member of a number of committees.
Derek Feinberg, a PGA assistant golf professional at Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova, Pennsylvania., and the Section’s 2025 Justin Riegel Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. The award recognizes PGA of America Golf Professionals who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf, and is named for the late Justin Riegel, a past Section Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. Feinberg exemplifies the complete PGA assistant golf professional, excelling in operations, merchandising, teaching, tournament management, and staff leadership while consistently placing people at the center of his work. Guided by values shaped through long-term sobriety—humility, empathy, and gratitude—he leads with calm professionalism and a deep commitment to service. At Overbrook, Feinberg has helped drive a vibrant golf shop, increasing annual sales, expanded youth and women’s golf programming, and played a key role in delivering high-quality member events through thoughtful planning and attention to detail. Beyond the club, he has emerged as a respected Section leader through his service with PGA REACH Philadelphia, and as Section Ambassador to the Wilson-Smith Golf League, where he has helped build nationally recognized recovery-focused golf communities.
Conor Grandin is a sales representative for Holderness & Bourne, and is the Section’s 2025 Salesperson of the Year. This award recognizes a sales representative who contributes to the Section and is involved with sponsoring Section events. They are also respected among their fellow Section clubs and have implemented new ideas to assist growing the game of golf. Grandin manages more than 120 green grass accounts across the region and approaches his role as a trusted advisor—providing consultative guidance tailored to each club’s unique membership rather than focusing solely on sales volume. His deep product knowledge, responsiveness, and willingness to share successful retail strategies across accounts help PGA Professionals strengthen shop performance and enhance the member experience. Grandin has also supported Section professional development by contributing apparel and resources to key events and championships, while his innovative merchandising initiatives—such as holiday microsites, staff apparel programs, event-order incentives, and data-driven retail dashboards—have helped clubs streamline operations and grow revenue.
